Nov. 21, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

It’s all over in the Al-Rayyan Stadium and each team will take a point after the US Men’s National Team tied Wales 1-1 in Group B.

There was frustration for the US in its opening game of Qatar 2022 as Gareth Bale scored a late penalty for Wales. The US was dominant for much of the match, but as has so often been the case, it was LAFC star Bale who dug Wales out of a sticky situation as this Group B game ended with the teams splitting the points.

22-year-old Timothy Weah, son of soccer great George Weah, had put the US ahead in the first-half with a fine finish but this young US side – with an average age of 25 years and 175 days – was unable to maintain its dominance and allowed Wales to grow into the game and snatch a draw.

Wales' Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring a goal during a match against USA on November 21.

Gareth Bale is brought down very clearly by Walker Zimmerman in the US box and the referee whistles for a spot-kick.

And it’s Bale who takes the kick… and it’s a Welsh goal! Game on! USMNT 1 - Wales 1!

USA's Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring the first goal of the match against Wales on November 21.

Timothy Weah’s 36th minute goal for the USA might have you thinking, “Hmm, that last name sounds familiar.” That’s because the 22-year-old’s father is none other than George Weah, former Liberian soccer player and current president of the West African country.

George Weah had a prolific professional career, spending five seasons with AS Monaco — and winning the French Cup in 1991 — before heading to Paris Saint-Germain, who he led to the French Cup, league title and the semifinals of the 1995 Champions League. Weah moved to Italy and won the Scudetto twice with AC Milan, but he’s perhaps most famous for being the first and only African to date to win the Ballon d’Or, the award given to the best individual footballer in any given year.

Still, during his incredible career, Weah Sr. was never able to play in the World Cup. An achievement his talented son has been able to accomplish in the most incredible way in Qatar.

After scoring a goal in the first half, the USA is back on the field against Wales, which will be looking to level the score in this second half.

The US Men’s National Team is impressing in its first World Cup appearance in eight-and-a-half years with the team controlling play against Wales and deservedly leading 1-0 at the break after Timothy Weah’s 36th-minute goal.

A good second half awaits us as Wales will have to open up more to look for an equalizer, which could provide even more chances for the US.

USA's Timothy Weah scores the first goal of the match against Wales on November 21.

Goal! Timothy Weah receives a great through ball from Christian Pulisic in the 36th minute and makes no mistake slotting it home to make it 1-0 for the USA.

Off the field, in the stands, there could be a second competition going on: best American costume. Fans were spotted in comprehensive American-themes outfits, including the bald eagle and Elvis among others. Take a look:

USA fans stand for the national anthem prior to the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

A USA fan wearing an American-themed luchador mask waits in the stands ahead of the match against Wales on November 21.

Rock and roll! A USA fan is seen before the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

Two Elvis-themed fans are seen prior to the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

There’s a bet going on between US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and James Roscoe, the Deputy Head of Mission to the Embassy of the United Kingdom. And it all rests on who wins in the match between USA and Wales:

Kickoff is here! The US is looking to impress with a very young squad, eight-and-a-half years on from its last World Cup appearance, while Wales is ready for its first appearance in 64 years.

Wales fans cheer on the stands ahead of the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

It’s like a game of ping-pong inside the stadium with the two sets of fans grouped behind either goal.

The stadium announcer kicks things off by promoting the US contingent to chant that classic chant “USA, USA.”

The Welsh reply immediately shouting their country’s name at the top of their voice and serenading Doha with songs from back home.

United States fans show their support prior to the match between USA and Wales on November 21.

The sight of thousands of Welsh fans in their iconic red shirts and bucket hats is a sight to behold — a red wall willing their team on.

The US fans are more spread out across the stadium but the atmosphere is nonetheless deafening as the players walk out onto the field.

The inside of the stadium is seen ahead of the match between the United States and Wales on November 21.

There seems to be notably more empty seats inside the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium as we’re approaching 10 minutes until kickoff.

That could be because of the distance needed to travel for the two sets of fans or the fact this kicks off at 10 p.m. local time, which might put the locals off.

Despite the areas around the stadium feeling a lot quieter than usual, pockets of die hard Welsh and US fans are making their voices heard.

Alcohol may have been banned from outside stadiums for this World Cup, but it feels like a lot of the fans have found somewhere to enjoy themselves before this match. Definitely a smaller attendance but the atmosphere in the stadium is building nicely before kickoff.?

For the United States

Manager: Gregg Berhalter

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers,?Sergi?o Dest, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman

Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan

Forwards: Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Haji Wright

And for Wales:

Manager: Rob Page

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies

Defenders: Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Gunter, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts

Midfielders: Sorba Thomas, Joe Allen, Matt Smith, Dylan Levitt, Harry Wilson, Joe Morrell, Jonny Williams, Aaron Ramsey, Rubin Colwill

Forwards: Gareth Bale, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Dan James

Members of the United States Men’s National Team during a training session in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on November 20.

When the?United States Men’s National Team?(USMNT) walks onto the pitch in Qatar on Monday, it will be appearing at a men’s?World Cup?for the first time since 2014.

In the eight-and-a-half years since then,?soccer has overtaken ice hockey to become the country’s fourth most watched sport with 13% of respondents marking it their favorite sport, according to a survey conducted by?Statista?in 2022, increasing from 4% in 2013, according to a?Gallup?poll.

So far, the US has been unable to translate this newfound popularity at home onto the world stage, though the core of its “golden generation” has shown its potential to outdo its predecessors and has received the presidential vote of confidence ahead of its opening match against Wales.

“I know you’re the underdog, but you’ve got some of the best players in the world on your team and you’re representing this country and I know you’re going to play your hearts out, so let’s go shock them all,” President Joe Biden told the players on a call.

The USMNT was one of the last teams to book its ticket to Qatar, stuttering its way through the qualifying stages, perhaps haunted by its failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a loss to Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017.

Injuries have hindered the USMNT’s cohesion. Christian Pulisic and other key members of the team – forward Gio Reyna, midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, as well as defender Sergi?o Dest – have played together in the same match just once, according to ESPN. It is indicative of the team’s relatively untested nature, compounded by its youth which is, in many ways, its defining feature. Just one player, defender DeAndre Yedlin, has prior World Cup experience.

The 26-player squad will have an average age of 25 years and 175 days when it plays Wales, while the team that qualified for the tournament was even younger with an average age of 23 across the starting lineups of its qualifying matches. Although it is a team lacking in World Cup experience, it has frequently shown its talent, utilizing a high-tempo, transition game that showcases its dynamism and athletic midfield.

Netherlands' Davy Klaassen celebrates scoring their second goal?during a match against Senegal on November 21.

Memphis Depay shoots from far outside the box and has his ball stopped by Edouard Mendy, but the ball finds its way to Davy Klaassen, who puts it past a helpless Mendy in the 99th minute…

And that’s the final whistle! Three points to the Dutch in Group A, who now sit joint-first in the group with Ecuador.

A media shuttle bus stop for journalists is seen outside of a 2022 World Cup venue.

Hold the World Cup in a small country, they said. It will be easy to attend two matches in a day, they said…

Those in the media seem to be taking up the challenge — including this reporter — but it’s not quite as easy as it sounds.

After one match finishes, there is a race to listen to the press conference (which tends to run late) and then sprint outside to begin the search for where the media shuttle buses are parked.

Those leaving it late, like myself, can be seen sprinting past jubilant fans to hop onto the last one. It takes a while for the bus to leave as out-of-breath journalists try to jump on at the very last minute.

Once aboard, you’ve got to cross your fingers that traffic will be kind.

It’s really a sport within a sport.

Netherlands' Cody Gakpo scores the first goal of the match between the Netherlands and Senegal on November 21.

In the 84th minute, we finally have a goal! PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo runs into the box and heads the beautiful cross from Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong past Edouard Mendy to make it 1-0 late.

Qatar dismissed the ‘OneLove’ armband controversy as a matter between FIFA and international teams, and reiterated that “everybody is welcome” regardless of “orientation.”

“Everything that happens on the pitch is a FIFA matter,” the spokesperson of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Fatma Al Nuaimi, told CNN in Doha.?

The SC, which since its formation in 2011, has been responsible for overseeing the infrastructure projects and planning for the World Cup.

The captains of England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark have said they will not wear ‘OneLove’ armbands at the Qatar World Cup, after world-football’s governing body FIFA made it clear the players would be yellow carded, the associations said in a joint statement on Monday.

“There’s nothing to comment about, I think it’s between … the teams and FIFA directly,” Al Nuaimi said.?

In response to players showing forms of protest, including England taking the knee and Iran players choosing not to sing the national anthem in support of protests back home, Al Nuaimi said the World Cup is “a platform” for people to express their “values and beliefs.”

After a 0-0 scoreline in the first half, the Netherlands and Senegal are back on the field looking for that elusive first goal.

Senegal fans have packed the stadium in full, colorful regalia. As the halftime break is upon us, here are some vibrant snapshots of the fanfare for the Lions of Teranga:

Senegal fans are seen inside the stadium before the match against the Netherlands on November 21.

A Senegal fan cheers in the stands before the match on November 21.

Senegal fans are seen before the match on November 21.

It was a hard-fought, back-and-forth first half between Senegal and The Netherlands in their group opener in Doha, but despite a couple of good chances for both sides, the score remains level at 0-0.

The Dutch look to have the slightly better form in the game, but it’s all to play for in the second half at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz looks on prior to the match between England and Iran on November 21.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz was reluctant to talk about off-the-field issues at his post-match press conference following England’s dominant 6-2 win.

In what seemed to be a show of solidarity with those?protesting back home,?the players stood silent as the Iranian national anthem played out around the Khalifa International Stadium before kickoff on Monday.?

Queiroz sounded frustrated whenever asked about an issue not to do with soccer and didn’t address the national anthem protest directly.

“It’s not right to come to this World Cup and ask them to do things that aren’t their responsibility,” added Queiroz. “In the right moments, we will express our feelings and our opinions.”

Netherlands players kick off during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Senegal and Netherlands at Al Thumama Stadium on November 21, in Doha, Qatar.

We have kickoff as the Netherlands and Senegal play their opening match in the World Cup.

The Senegal vs Netherlands match is set to kick off soon at 11 a.m. ET. Ahead of the match, here’s a look at the squads:

Here’s the Senegal squad

Manager: Aliou Cissé

Goalkeepers: Seny Dieng, Alfred Gomis, Edouard Mendy

Defenders: Pape Abdou Cissé, Abdou Diallo, Ismail Jakobs, Kalidou Koulibaly, Formose Mendy, Youssouf Sabaly, Fodé Balo Touré

Midfielders: Pathé Ciss, Krepin Diatta, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate, Mamadou Loum, Nampalys Mendy, Moustapha Name, Pape Matar Sarr

Forwards: Boulaye Dia, Bamba Dieng, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mané, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Famara Diedhiou

And for the Netherlands

Manager: Louis van Gaal

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow, Remko Pasveer, Andries Nopper

Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Aké, Daley Blind, Jurri?n Timber, Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Mathijs de Ligt, Tyrell Malacia, Jeremie Frimpong

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong, Steven Berghuis, Davy Klaassen, Teun Koopmeiners, Cody Gakpo, Marten de Roon, Kenneth Taylor, Xavi Simons

Forwards: Memphis Depay, Steven Bergwijn, Vincent Janssen, Luuk de Jong, Noa Lang, Wout Weghorst

For every team, click here.

England fans pictured with the?air?conditioning?units inside the stadium during the match between Iran and England in the Khalifa International Stadium, in Doha,?Qatar, on November 21.

Last week, it seemed as though the unseasonably warm weather in Doha, Qatar, would have an impact on the games in this tournament.

You couldn’t walk in the direct sunlight for too long before being drenched in sweat. Players, who aren’t used to playing in such sunny climates, were even voicing their concerns in press conferences.

But since action got underway, the temperatures have dropped to their more normal levels for this time of year. After all, organizers changed the dates of the tournament for as much.

Another factor is the air conditioning inside the stadiums.

The Khalifa International Stadium, which hosted the second game between England and Iran, was particularly cold with fans having to put on extra layers.

As soon as you step away from the pitch, though, it’s back to t-shirt and shorts.

Iran’s soccer team kicked off their opener World Cup match against England by staying silent as the national anthem played before kickoff, seeming to stand in solidarity with those protesting back home.

Remember: Protests, chaos and violence has rocked Iran in recent months and threatened the very nature of the country’s regime, which has been in power for more than 40 years. The protests, referred to by experts as the most significant since the establishment of clerical rule following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, were sparked by the death of?Mahsa Amini,?a 22-year-old woman who died after being detained by Iran’s morality police, allegedly for not abiding by the country’s conservative dress code.

Here’s a glimpse of the moment on and off the pitch.

Iran?players?line?up?before the match vs England at Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar, on November 21.

Iranian fans hold up banners in the stadium.

Iran?fans?are seen during the match between England and?Iran?at the FIFA Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park, Doha, Qatar, on November 21.

Iran?fans?watch the match between England and?Iran?at Al Bidda Park, Doha, Qatar, on November 21.

Iran?fans?hold a banner reading 'Woman life freedom' inside the stadium during the match vs England on November 21.

Mehdi Taremi scores his team's penalty, making it 6-2 and giving him his brace.

In an action in the England box, an Iranian defender falls down and the video assistant referee (VAR) is called into action. John Stones is adjudged to have pulled down the attacker and the referee points to the spot.

And Mehdi Taremi, slowly tip-toeing towards the ball, converts the resulting penalty to make it 6-2, as the final whistle blows right after.

Jack Grealish of England celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, in Doha, Qatar.

Six for the Three Lions! Newcastle forward Callum Wilson breaks down the right and draws the Iran defense before laying it off for Jack Grealish to calmly score another goal. 6-1!

Marcus Rashford scores his first goal in a major international tournament to make it 5-1 for England.

Marcus Rashford scores his first ever goal in a major international tournament — and it is a tidy one. 5-1 to the Euro 2020 finalist.

England’s Harry Maguire was substituted out due to an injury. Eric Dier replaces him on the field.

Mehdi Taremi scores Iran's first goal of the 2022 World Cup.

Iran pulls one back in the 65th minute. Mehdi Taremi delivered the much-needed goal to bring the Iranian fans in the stadium to life once again.

Bukayo Saka bags his brace and England is laughing.

Bukayo Saka gets his second goal of the night to make it 4-0 for England, which is well on its way to the 3 points in this Group B opener.

Despite their team being down 4-0 in the second half, Iranian fans are making the most noise.

A drummer has continuously provided the beat for the supporters’ chants of “Iran” and a loud horn initiates yet more songs from the thousands of Iranians inside the stadium.

There was a moment before the end of the first half when it all felt a bit flat but the Iranian supporters are now trying to galvanize their side, who is currently being outclassed on the pitch.

The match between Iran and England resumes after halftime. The Three Lions lead 3-0 after the break.

Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham scored the goals.

Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was substituted early in the first half after spending eight minutes receiving treatment for a head injury.

Iranian fans hold up signs "Woman Life Freedom" during their country's match against England in Doha.

The starting 11 lineup who is playing in Iran’s first World Cup game against England did not sing the national anthem ahead of kickoff at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar on Monday.?

Outside the stadium, before the game, CNN witnessed a number of Iran supporters wearing protest t-shirts, with slogans such as “Free Iran” or “Rise with the women of Iran.”?

Iranian-born fans Sam Mohsen and Venus Vanaki outside the stadium in Doha, Qatar.

Some were reluctant to speak, fearing that regime spotters were monitoring them in the crowd, but Iranian-born Sam Mohsen and Venus Vanaki, who now reside in California, told CNN that they hoped the players would send them a sign that they were in solidarity with the protesters, and that would begin with them not singing their anthem.

As the anthem played over the stadium loudspeakers, and the players remained tight lipped, a large contingent of Iranian supporters appeared to be jubilant, cheering throughout.?

Remember: As anti-government protests entered a third month back in their home country just on the other side of the Persian Gulf, speculation had been mounting about how the players would handle the situation. In recent weeks, many other athletes have spoken out in support of the demonstrators, and several sports teams had refrained from singing the anthem.

Raheem Sterling makes it look too easy as he superbly slots in the Harry Kane cross in first-half stoppage time.

And it’s turning into an England rout with Raheem Sterling finishing superbly from a Harry Kane cross to make it 3-0.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka powers in the second for England off a half-volley .

It’s a second goal for England against Iran — this time from Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who finishes off a half-volley off the roof of the net.

The score is now 2-0.

FIFA has confirmed that some fans are struggling to access their World Cup tickets.

“Some spectators are currently experiencing an issue with accessing their tickets via the FIFA ticketing app. FIFA is working on solving the issue. In the meantime, fans who are not able to access their mobile tickets should check the email accounts they used to register with the Ticket app for further instructions,” it said in a statement on Monday.

“In case fans cannot access their email accounts, the stadium’s Ticket Resolution Point will be able to support. We thank fans for their resolution as we work to fix the issue as soon as possible.”

Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham scores his team's first goal during its match against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium on November 21.

England just scored their first World Cup goal. Teenage sensation Jude Bellingham delivered the goal for the team.

Iranian protesters set their scarves on fire while marching down a street on October 1 in Tehran, Iran.

Protesting at the World Cup, on the biggest stage of all for football, carries potentially huge risks for the current players in the national team.

“The players are under a lot of pressure by the government. It affects their livelihood, their future, their earnings,” Omid Namazi – the Iranian national team’s assistant coach from 2011 to 2014 – told CNN Sport. Nonetheless, players will be free to protest at the World Cup so long as they do not break FIFA rules, their manager Carlos Queiroz has said.

What would the players be protesting?

Soccer, like everything else in Iran, has been affected by?the widespread protests,?chaos and violence convulsing the country and threatening the very nature of the regime that has been in power for more than 40 years.

It is amid this turmoil that the Iranian national team has traveled across the Persian Gulf to Qatar where it will face two of the country’s fiercest geopolitical rivals, England and the United States, in its group – the ‘Old Fox’ and the ‘Great Satan’ as they are referred to colloquially by some in Iran.

In the buildup to the?World Cup?in Qatar, there were calls for Iran to be thrown out of the tournament. As the team prepared to play England in its opening World Cup match, all eyes were focused on its players for more than soccer.

The protests, referred to by experts as the most significant since the establishment of clerical rule following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, were sparked by the death of?Mahsa Amini,?a 22-year-old woman who died after being detained by?Iran’s morality police?allegedly for not abiding by the country’s conservative dress code.

What began as a clamor for women’s rights has morphed into a movement, still driven by women, demanding the end of a regime that “people no longer believe…is reformable,” Abbas Milani, director of Iranian studies at Stanford University, told?CNN’s Christiane Amanpour?earlier this month. “They want a different social contract without the clergy claiming divine right.”

Iran's goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand leaves the pitch on a stretcher after he was injured during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 21.

There has been some controversy around a head injury in the opening minutes of England’s clash with Iran.

Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was eventually substituted after spending eight minutes receiving treatment for a head injury.

The keeper collided with a teammate while punching away an England cross in the 8th minute. Beiranvand received medical attention before waving away Iran’s staff and attempting to play on. He appeared to be in state of confusion and pain but was desperate to continue on.

But after a couple minutes, he collapsed once again in distress and was eventually replaced by Hossein Hosseini.

Iranian players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, in Doha, Qatar.

Iran’s players did not sing their national anthem before their opening game of the World Cup in Qatar against England on Monday.

Defender Ehsan Hajsafi became on?Sunday?the first member of Iran’s national team to speak out from the World Cup in Qatar in apparent support of anti-government protests at home, saying players should be the voice of those suffering.

Iranian players line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, in Doha, Qatar.

The match between Iran and England has begun. Not a single Iranian player sang the national anthem.

Spectators wait for the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between England and Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 21.

?While off-field topics continue to dominate the headlines, many supporters in Doha, Qatar, are looking forward to watching some soccer.

Both sets of fans mingle on the Metro as they make their way to the Khalifa International Stadium where England will play Iran.

With both nations wearing either red or white shirts, it’s not immediately obvious who is supporting who as excitement builds ahead of the second match of the tournament.

Supporters pose for pictures together and chant their national songs in tandem as the carriages get increasingly packed at every stop.?

Let’s see who’ll still be singing full-time.

A detailed view of the 'ONE-LOVE' captains armband worn by Georginio Wijnaldum of Netherlands worn during a match between Netherlands and Czech Republic at Puskas Arena on June 27, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary.

The captains of several European teams will not to wear?“OneLove” armbands?at the?World Cup?in Qatar due to the danger of receiving yellow cards.

England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Wales were set to participate in the “OneLove” campaign to promote inclusion and oppose discrimination.

But those countries’ associations said in a statement on Monday that the armband – which features a striped heart in different colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities – would not be worn in Qatar.

“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play,” the joint statement read. “As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.”

The decision not to showcase the armband in Qatar came hours before England’s opening game against Iran, while Wales faces the US and the Netherlands faces Senegal later on Monday.

In the buildup to the World Cup, Qatar – where?homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison?– has come under criticism for its stance on LGBTQ rights. However, the country has repeatedly insisted that “everyone is welcome” at the tournament.

It’s the second day of the 2022 World Cup, and England is playing against Iran soon.

Here’s the English squad:

Manager:?Gareth Southgate

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ben White

Midfielders:?Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice

Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson

And for Iran:

Manager: Carlos Queiroz

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Amir Abedzadeh, Hossein Hosseini, Payam Niazmand

Defenders: Majid Hosseini, Hossein Kananizadehgan, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Morteza Pouraliganji, Sadegh Moharrami, Ramin Rezaeian, Milad Mohammadi, Abolfazl Jalali

Midfielders: Ehsan Hajsafi, Saeed Ezatolahi, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Ali Karimi, Saman Ghoddos, Ahmad Noorollahi, Vahid Amiri

Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Ali Gholizadeh, Mehdi Taremi, Mahdi Torabi, Karim Ansarifard, Sardar Azmoun

For every team, click here.

Ali Daei of Iran during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Iran’s record international goalscorer Ali Daei declined an invitation to attend the?World Cup in Qatar to stand in solidarity with?Iranian protesters.

Iran was playing its opening match Monday against England.

“I prefer to be next to you in my homeland and express my sympathy with all the families who lost loved ones over these days,” added Daei.

The 53-year-old Iranian football legend scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006, a record broken by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo last year.

Daei has been a vocal supporter of the nationwide protests across Iran, which broke out when 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini died in September after getting detained by Iran’s morality police.

To read more, click here.